Philosophy 2500F/G Chapter Notes -Hypothetical Imperative

• School: Western University
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: Philosophy 2500F/G
• Professor: Prof

Document Summary

Morality as a system of hypothetical imperatives foot. Rejecting kant"s derivation of duties from the mere form of the law expressed in terms of a universally legislative will. The necessity of distinguishing moral judgements from hypothetical imperatives. Kant seems to be thinking at least as much of statements about what ought to be or should be done. The distinction between hypothetical imperatives and categorical imperatives appears in characteristic form in the following passages from the foundations of the metaphysics of morals. The hypothetical imperative says only that the action is good to some purpose and the purpose, he explains, may be possible or actual. All men necessarily desire their own happiness. Sometimes what a man should do depends on his passing inclination. Hypothetical imperatives should already be appearing as extremely diverse; a further important distinction is between those that concern an individual and those that concern a group.